Dave's Traveling World of Reptiles at Totally Tuesday

7/10/08

I love Lisle Park District. We went to their Totally Tuesday event today, which was Dave's Traveling world of Reptiles. This guy pulled out a 14 foot albino Burmese Python! It was rad! The kids loved the show. Dave was funny and interacted with the audience nicely. It was a really fun afternoon.

Swim Lessons

7/8 and 7/10

First week of swim lessons at the YMCA. The kids are doing great. They are in the same pool but separate classes, so I get to watch them both splash around.

Blackberry Farm

On July 14th, I took the kids to Blackberry Farm in Aurora.  This farm site from the 1800's has a One Room Schoolhouse, Pioneer Cabin, Farm Museum, Discovery Barn, the Wagner House, Blacksmith Shop, Weaver’s Cabin and an Early Streets Museum.  It is a nice place to explore.  They have a lot of other fun activities also.

Maxwell and Madeline rode the ponies, 

the train,

the wagon,

and the pedal tractors.

Here is Max singing to the Donkey.

"Sweetly sings the donkey, at the break of day.  If you do not feed him, this is what he'll say.  

Hee haw.  Hee haw.  Hee haw, hee haw, hee haw."

Their visit was memorialized by the famous artist Grant Wood in his painting American Gothic.  You can see it on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.  How he painted them way back in 1930 is beyond me.  He was a visionary...

Fourth of July in Carver

We spent the Fourth of July in Carver, MN.

The morning was spent at a Ward Breakfast in the park.

Afterwards, we went out to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It was really nice. The kids loved the Maze Garden.

Sparklers with the Cousins

Max got a spark on his foot, so he wasn't too happy with the sparkler.

First Lost Tooth

Madeline lost her first tooth today!  She was so excited.  She came running to me, "I lost my tooth!  I lost my tooth!  I've been hoping for it to come out!"  She has been waiting all year for this moment.  She was really envious of all her friends who had lost teeth before her.

We arrived in Minnesota today to visit Brent, Rebecca, Ethan and Ellen for the Fourth of July holiday.  She was hanging out with cousin Ellen watching a movie.  She said she just wiggled it and it came right out.  Ellen was really sweet and made sure that Maddie wrote the tooth fairy a letter to put under her pillow.

The Tooth Fairy did come, and she left Maddie some coins, a poem, a coloring page and some glittery markers.

Dear Madeline,

When I heard you lost a tooth
do you know what I did?
I made a map to visit you
'cause you're a special kid!

First I found out where you were
and I checked my fairy map.
Then I flew to your bedside
where I saw you brand new "gap."

Of course, I took your worn-out tooth
just like I've always done.
But I've left you something nice instead
to help you have some fun!

Love,

The Tooth Fairy

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

7/2/08

I know, not a great picture. It was the best I could do though. We had a lot of fun at the Tom Petty concert with our friends Rob and Marty.  Steve Winwood opened the night.

It was really nice to get out without the kids for once!

Taste of Chicago, Ella Jenkins and the American Girl Theatre

7/1/08

After just moving out to our Naperville vacation home the night before, I drove the kids back into the city for the Taste of Chicago. We go every year, and this day was packed full of children's activities. There was a great craft tent set up.  Max got his face painting straight away. (Maddie is not a fan of that, so she declined.) Maddie decorated a bag and Max decorated a hat. Then we sat down to enjoy the Ella Jenkins concert. Ella is a Chicago legend. She has been making folk and sing-along music since the 50's.  She has a great spirit of kindness about her.  Max and Maddie both got asked to come up on stage and help her play some music. It was a great experience.

The kids begged to go on the Carousel and into the Bounce Around.  They loved it.  Max was very happy that Todd met us there.  He always says, "Dad, You're my bestest buddy!"

Maddie loved dressing up like her Bitty Baby to see the Bitty Baby Matinee and the American Girl Ambassadors. American Girl Place is actually shutting down their theatre in September, so this was a great opportunity to see them perform.